Bi 107 - Writing about Scientific Research

Institution:

California Institute of Technology

Subject:

Biology

Description:

This will be a hands-on course in which students learn how to write a long essay or a book explaining complex scientific research. The course will focus on learning to write clearly and compellingly, to rewrite and edit, and, especially, to find one’s own writing voice. In the first part of the course, students will read, analyze, and critique published works, including some early drafts of well-known books. Together, we will study different writing styles; how chapters, articles, and books are structured; and basic narrative techniques and their execution. In the second part of the course students will select a cutting-edge scientific research topic to write about and produce a book chapter on that topic. Students’ works-in-progress will be analyzed each week in class. The finished chapters will be included in a manuscript for a book one might call The Caltech Student’s Guide to the Most Awesome Cutting Edge Science, 2012. Limited enrollment. Instructor: Mlodinow.

Credits:

9.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.caltech.edu

Phone Number:

(626) 395-6811

Regional Accreditation:

Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Quarter

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